Leader, Ben

Singer

Collection date: Jan 1907

Area: Somerset - Bridgwater Surrounds

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Ben Leader of Badgworth: 5 miles NW of Wedmore (1837-1907): age 70, 1 song 'Outlandish Knight' FT1196 on 17 Jan 1907: Sharp recorded Ben’s age as 75 but it’s likely to have been 70. Benjamin Leader was baptised on 16/4/1837 at Badgworth church, son of William Leader, schoolmaster and his wife Martha. Unfortunately William died in 1842 and of necessity Ben was put to work as a ‘farm servant’ in the 1851 census at nearby village of Biddisham. He was there in 1861 in a similar capacity. On 28/9/1875 at Clifton St Andrews church he married Anne Petheram and they settled back at Badgworth. They had 2 children and Ben worked consistently as an agricultural labourer. In 1901 census (RG13/2321 f36 p5) they were living next to the Rectory at Badgworth. Ben died just 3 months after meeting Sharp (24/4/1907).